Method of enforcing the formation of free pearls of regular form by pearl-producing mollusks.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TOKICHI NISHIKAWA, DECEASED, LATE OF AZABU-KU, TOKYO, JAPAN, BY TORAKICHI NISHIKAWA, GUARDIAN 0F SHINKIGHI NISHIKAWA, SON AND LEGAL SUCCESSOR OF SAID TOKICHI NISHIKAWA.

METHOD OF ENFORGING THE FORMATION OF FREE PEARLS OF REGULAR FORM BY PEARL-PRODUCING MOLLUSKS.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SHINKICHI NISHI- KAWA, (by my guardian ToRAKIoHI NIsHI- KAWAQ son and legal successor of the deceased inventor, TOKICHI NIsHIKAWA, late of No. 10 Higashi-Toriizaka-cho, Azabu-ku, Tokyo, J apan,a subject of the Emperor of Japan, residing at No. 10 Higashi-Toriizaka-cho, Azabu-ku, Tokyo, Japan, declare that my deceased father, TOKICHI NISHI- KAWA, has invented new and useful Improvements in Methods of Enforcing the Formation of Free Pearls of Regular Form by Pearl-Producing Mollusks, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to obtain a free pearl of regular form by bringing about the natural process of pearl production by an artificial means.

The most important phase of the natural process of pearl production is the formation of the pearl-sac by the nacre-secreting cells, 2'. e., the epithelial cells of the mantle, within the tissues of pearl-producing mollusks. The cause and process of the formation of the pearl-sac is still an open question. However, that the fcrmation of the pearl-sac is the essential and necessary phase of the pearl production is a recognized fact. When a pearl-sac is produced a free pearl'is produced as its natural consequence.

A small piece of the epithelial of the mantle, or the whole, or a part, of a pearlsac which already exists in the tissue of a pearl-producing mollusk, is severed from the rest of the tissue, with a knife, and inserted into the tissue of the samc,or other, individual of the same, or other, species through an opening made with a knife. After a lapse of time the opening is healed, and the cells of the inserted tissue undergo division, and a pearl-sac is formed. A free pearl is formed within the pearl-sac as the result of its nacre-secreting activity.

The free pearl produced by the abovementioned process is generally irregular in form, as are most natural pearls. However, when a nucleus, a body with regular suitable dimensions and of a substance insoluble in water, which undergoes no chemical change within water or the molluscan tissue, is inserted at thesame time, and in the same place, with the small piece of the mantle- Copies of this patentmay be obtained for Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

Application filed March 17, 1915. Serial No. 15,150.

epithelium, Or the whole, or a part, of the pearl-sac existing in the tissue of a mollusk,

into the tissue of the same individual, or

other individual of the same or different species, the pearl-sac which is formed as the consequence of the treatment surrounds the nucleus and the nacre secreted is deposited over the surface of the same body and the free pearl produced possesses the same regular form as that of the nucleus.

That I claim is:

1. A method of bringing about the formation, by pearl-producing mollusks, of pearls of regular form, which consists in inserting a small piece from the mantle of a pearlproducing mollusk in a living mollusk of this class together with a stable insoluble object of regular form to serve as a nucleus.

2. A method of bringing about the formation, by pearl-producing mollusks, of pearls of regular form, which consists in inserting a small piece from the epithelium-mantle of a pearl-producing mollusk in a living mollusk of'this class together with a stable insoluble object ofregular form to serve as a nucleus.

3. A method of bringing about the formation, by pearl-producing mollusks, of pearls of regular form, which consists in inserting a small piece fro-m the pearl-sac of a pearlproducing mollusk in a living mollusk of this class together with a stable insoluble object of regular form to serve as a nucleus.

4. A method of bringing about the forma tion, by pearl-producing mollusks, of pearls of regular form, which consists in making an incision in the tissue of a mollusk of this class, and inserting a small piece from the mantle of a pearl-producing mollusk together with a stable insoluble object of regular form within the incision to serve as a nucleus.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

[L. s.] SHINKICHI NISHIKAWA,

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents,

Washington, D. G. 

